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Category Archives: Andrew Osenga

I am a big fan of the music Andrew Osenga makes. He has a talent for telling stories that are true and deep. More than once I have found a lyric he has written and sung miraculously healing one of my broken places. And though he is ever and always a considerate and unselfish player, when the situation allows for an unrestrained electric guitar solo, the boy can seriously blow your hair back.

Here are some other things I know about Andy:

He is generous in helping other musicians refine their own voice, and advance in their craft.

He is a kind and encouraging teacher who knows what he is talking about.

He is generous in donating his time to help young people meet Jesus every summer at Young Life camps.

He is generous in his friendships. He believes in community and pursues it. He is among the first to show up to help a friend who needs it.

He is genuine in his faith and lives into and out of it.

He takes leaps of faith.

He works very hard.

These things and more make me a fan of Andrew, the person, not just Andrew, the musician. They make me humbly grateful to count him among my friends.

Every summer, Andy and his family donate several weeks of their time to serve and encourage kids at Young Life camp. Upon returning home from camp this summer, they discovered a pipe had burst in their home, flooding their house for over a week’s time. Most of their possessions were destroyed by water damage, and the house now has to undergo major demolition and rebuilding to eliminate mold and moisture. It will be a long time before Andy and his family can move back in.

There is some good news. Insurance will cover damage to the house and eventually replace many of the contents. Most of Andy’s gear and all of his instruments were in his studio and are safe. No one was physically injured.

But you can imagine the disruption to a family that includes three young children, one just a few months old. And the difficulty of going through soggy belongings, most of which are not salvageable. What can be saved has to be cleaned and disinfected. The family will be moving into rental housing in Nashville.

Dealing with all of this requires immediate and more than full-time attention. It is also mentally and emotionally exhausting. Which means it is pretty hard to work at the business by which Andy makes his living. Insurance does not cover lost wages for the time Andy can’t spend in the studio as a player, producer and engineer. Nor can it give him more hours in a day to promote his fall tour, which could further impact his income.

Many people have expressed a desire to help in tangible ways. So if this is something that moves your heart, there are a couple of things you can do to help the Osengas through this difficult season as they get back on their feet.

First, if you live near one of the cities where Andy hopes to tour this fall, buy your tickets now. And don’t be shy about getting your friends to buy now too. It will be a huge help to know where there is enough support for shows to be confirmed, and to have as much time as possible to make all of the arrangements necessary for the event to take place.

(One note – ticket counts are updated each evening, so you won’t see your purchase show up on the meter right away.)

Secondly, if you don’t live near one of the tour cities, or you want a different way to contribute, or you just want to go above and beyond in supporting Andy and his family, here is a link to a page where you can make a secure donation in any amount: https://www.wepay.com/donations/we-re-on-andy-s-side

Lastly, I want you to know that it is a difficult thing for Andy to be the recipient of your kindness and generosity. All of us would no doubt choose “giver” over “receiver” in this equation. These links are offered humbly and without pressure, as one means by which you might choose to express your love and support. Thank you for considering it.